while voters were still standing in line.

The federal government pretty much met its standard time lines, but the volume of support provided during the 72-96 hour was unprecedented. The federal response here was faster than Hugo, faster than Andrew, faster than Iniki, faster than Francine and Jeanne." For instance, it took five days for National Guard troops to arrive in strength on the scene in Homestead, Fla. after Hurricane Andrew hit in 1992. But after Katrina, there was a significant National Guard presence in the afflicted region in three.

"We do not yet have teleporter or replicator technology like you saw on 'Star Trek' in college between hookah hits and waiting to pick up your worthless communications degree while the grown-ups actually engaged in the recovery effort were studying engineering. "The United States military can wipe out the Taliban and the Iraqi Republican Guard far more swiftly than they can bring 3 million Swanson dinners to an underwater city through an area the size of Great Britain which has no power, no working ports or airports, and a devastated and impassable road network. "You cannot speed recovery and relief efforts up by prepositioning assets (in the affected areas) since the assets are endangered by the very storm which destroyed the region. "No amount of yelling, crying and mustering of moral indignation will change any of the facts above."

The federal government pretty much met its standard time lines, but the volume of support provided during the 72-96 hour was unprecedented.

To assign blame, political or otherwise, is a wastful exercise unless one believes futility is the way to go.

Most people are positive and resilient and will do OK without much Gov't help.

People like you would perish quickly in a disaster because you want failure and would be willing to embrace it with your life.

Or wimper oaths against those that allowed you to make stupid decisions in the first place.

In otherwords Darwinistically pathetic.

But Clinton and Witt demonstrated an understanding of the virtues of the patronage system. The high number of political appointees allowed the new administration to free itself of the incompetents and replace them with talented new people. Clinton agreed to let Witt interview all potential appointees to ensure that they were qualified for the jobs. As a result, the resumes of the team they assembled are formidable. Elaine McReynolds, head of the Federal Insurance Administration served as the insurance commissioner of Tennessee for over seven years. Richard Moore, a former state legislator from Massachusetts, was appointed to help make state and local governments better prepared for disasters. Carrye Brown, head of the Fire Administration, had worked on Capitol Hill for 18 years where she was a specialist in disaster and fire legislation.

Can you tell us what the Feds didn't do right?

"Governments at all levels failed," said Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine.

Brown's memo told employees that among their duties, they would be expected to "convey a positive image of disaster operations to government officials, community organizations and the general public."

Too much is known about these things. You can't make things up and expect people to do anything except laugh at you.

Your Tribune link requires a registration, so I have no way of knowing what you are trying to prove.

News Flash! Bush isn't running.